But the dog's owner says he finds it hard to believe the loyal family pet could be responsible.
Otatara resident Muriel Gerken said her hand was so severely bitten by the dog from a neighbouring property that she needed a skin graft.
"I want the dog put down. I've never come across an aggressive animal like it before and I've been left traumatised," she said.
The animal in question, Grizzly, an 8-year-old mixed-breed dog, was locked in his backyard when she says it attacked her last week.
Mrs Gerken said after going on to her neighbour's property to make a complaint about the "incessant barking at all hours", her hand was stripped of its skin by Grizzly.
"I approached a gate and put my hand through to open the latch to try and talk to my neighbour about her barking dog," she said.
There was a hand-written sign warning about the dog but she did not think she would get her hand savaged, Mrs Gerken said.
However, Grizzly's owner, Peter Cox, said the allegation was in contrast to the dog's nature. Grizzly had been the family dog for eight years, had grown up with his children and played with the neighbourhood kids.
Grizzly had been locked in the yard and Mr Cox had not expected anyone to enter his property.
It was unfair that his children could lose their pet because his neighbour had come on to private property after being asked not to, he said.
Invercargill City Council manager of environmental health John Youngson said its dog control officers would talk to both parties before any action was taken.
Many people did not realise the law required dogs to be controlled at all times, even when on private property, he said.
Meanwhile, dog control officers are hoping the victim of another city dog attack will come forward to help with their investigation.
Mr Youngson said two people saw a man delivering pamphlets being attacked by a dog on Ythan St on Wednesday morning.
Although the victim had not reported the attack, dog control officers had taken the animal, a staffy-cross, to the pound.
The council was going through the legal process to get the dog signed over to their custody, but it would help if the victim could get in contact, he said.
Invercargill figures for the year to September show 76 people reported being attacked, up from 61 the previous year.
(The Nelson Mail - Oct 15, 2012)
